Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday condoled the death of Narayan Dutt Tiwari, describing him as a great leader who was respected and admired across party lines.

Tiwari died at a private hospital in Delhi Thursday after prolonged illness. He was 93.

Singh, in a letter to Tiwari's wife Ujjwala, conveyed his condolences on the bereavement.

"I have learnt with profound sorrow about the sad demise of your beloved husband Narayan Dutt Tiwari. In his death, our country has lost a great leader and an efficient minister of the Union government.

"His services to the nation as chief ministers of two states, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Union minister of external affairs and finance minister and as governor of Andhra Pradesh will always be remembered for a long time to come," he said, in a letter to Tiwari's wife.

Singh said his wife joins him to convey to her and other members of his family their heartfelt condolences on this loss.

"I pray to God to give all of you the strength to bear this great loss with courage and fortitude," he said.

Gandhi expressed grief over Tiwari's death and described him as an "illustrious member" of the Congress.

"I'm sorry to hear about the passing of Shri N D Tiwari ji an important and illustrious member of the Congress family, who was respected and admired across party lines. My condolences to his family in their time of grief. Om Shanti," the Congress president tweeted.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "My deepest condolences on the passing away of veteran Congress leader, former Union minister, former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Shri N D Tiwari ji. My thoughts and payers are with his followers and family members. May his soul rest in peace."